A north London squash club has been given £6,500 from the government to help encourage more lesbian, bisexual and transgender players to join and learn the sport.

The grant from Sport England will help new players at the 4Play Squash centre, based in Camden’s Finsbury Leisure Centre, via free coaching sessions and new equipment.

The club, which was founded 21 years ago, promised the government that it would “help develop squash in the gay community… particularly gay women” through dedicated evening sessions.

John Forni, the club’s publicity officer, told the Daily Telegraph: “Squash is a sport that anyone can play at any age. It’s nice to attract different members. Many of ours at present are males between 20 and 50 years old, but we want to open up squash to experts or novices of any age, gender or sexuality.”

He added: “We can show that there are other things to do as an LGBT person, other ways to meet people, not just the stereotypical party scene.”